Machine for making straps for loom-harness.



PATENTED MAR. 7, 1905.

J. R. PITTON.

MACHINE FOR MAKING STRAPS FOR LOOM HARNESS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 18. 1903.

Aifa rhg iT STATES Patented March 7, 1905.

PATENT Trina MACHINE FOR lNlAKlNG STRAP$ FOH LOUWl-E-lMRlTiIESS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 784,148, dated March'7, 1905.

Application filed May 18, 1908. Serial No, 167,581.

To all whom it may concern:

Be itknown that 1, JOHN R.F1r'roN,a citizen of the United States.residing at l/Vorcester, in the county of Worcester and Jommonwealth ofMassachusetts, have invented a new and useful improvement in Machinesfor Malting Straps for Loom-Harnesses, of which the following is aspecification accompanied by drawings forming a part of the same, inwhich-- Figure 1 representsatop view of a machine embodying my inventionfor rounding the central section of loom-harness straps. Fig. 2is a sideelevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a perspective View of the mechanism foropening and closing a pair of cutting-knives by which a portion of thestock is removed from that part of the strap to be rounded. Fig. AL is aperspec tive view of the compressing-dies for round ing the centralportion of the strap. Fig. 5 is a side view of the slotted plate foropening and closing the cutting-knives. Fig. 6 is aside View of theslide for opening and closing the compressing-dies. Fig. 7 is a sideview 01 the gri 'iping-jaws for engaging the strap as it is drawnbetween the cutting-knives and compressing-dies. and Fig. 8 represents acompleted loom-harness strap.

Similar letters of reference refer to similar parts in the differentviews.

The object of the machine embodying my present invention is to trim awaya portion of the stock throughout the central part of the loom-harnessstrap and to compress the parts so trimmed into a round or circular formin cross-section. leaving the ends of the strap their normal size andadapted to be attached to the loom-harness frame, while the central partof the strap is rounded to facilitate its movement over a scored pulleyupon which the harness-frame is suspended. To accomplish this result bymy machine, I provide a pair of rcci 'irocating jaws adapted to seizeone end of the harness-strap and todraw the same between a pair ofcutting-knives arranged on opposite sides of the strap and at an obliqueangle to its line of motion, whereby a portion of the stock is removedfrom the strap, and by placing behind the knives a pair of plates havingopposingsemicircular notches in their edges which compress that portionol the strap trimmed by knives to render it cylindrical incross-section. The action of the cutting-knives and compressing-dies iscontrolled by attaching the knives and dies to levers which are pivotedat one end to the framework and have their opposite ends en teringcurved slots in reciprocating plates, by which the levers are opened andclosed to carry the knives and compressing-dies toward and away from thestrap at proper periods of its movement between them.

Referring to the accompanying d rawings, A denotes the base-plate, uponwhich the operative mechanism of the machine is supported.

Journaled in suitable bearings upon a post A is a main driving-shaft B,to which power is applied by a belt-pulley YB. Attached to one end 01''the main driving-shattB is a crankarm B", which carries astnd Bconnected by a link B" with the stud ll, carried by a sliding head B",to which a reciprocating 11lovement is imparted along the parallel rods13 by the rotation of the crank-arm P. Projecting from the head I is ahorizontal drawplate C (shown on a larger scale in Fig. T) and carryingpivoted thereon strap-engaging jaws 1' (1. having their free endspreterably serrated to engage the strap, against where they are drawn bythe tension of a spiral spring 0. \Jhen the strap is removed, the jaws Care normally held by the spring U again-st the studs U 0 which alsoserve as guides to direct the entrance of the strap between the freeends of the jaws in the position shown by the broken lines 0', Fig. 7.

Mounted upon the base-plate A. is a post 1.), provided withlaterall,\'-projecting brackets l) D which support the studs ll D. uponwhich are pivoted levers E E. which support the oblique cutting-lmivcs Eand it. Pivoted upon the studs I)" and 1) are levers l 1?, which carrythe dies F and 11, provided in their opposing edges with semicircularnotches i The free ends of the lovers E and 1*) engage curved slots G Grin a reciprocating plate ii. The free ends ot' the levers F F engage curvcd slots H H in a reciprocating plate H.

reciprocating movement of the plates U" and H by means of their curvedslots serves to The swing the levers E E and F F at the proper time toseparate the knives E and dies F F to allow the end of the harness-strapto be inserted between them. The plates G and H are then movedlongitudinally at the proper time to bring the knives E E against theharness-strap while the central section of the strap is passing betweenthe knives, whereby a portion of the stock is removed, and thecompressing-dies F and F are likewise carried against the reducedsection of the strap to compress the same into a rounded or circularshape. The movement of the plates G and H is accomplished by means of apair of cams carried on the main driving-shaft B, one oi'said cams beingshown at I, Fig. 2, arranged as the shaft B rotates to laterally strikeagainst studs 1 and 1 carried upon a swinging yoke J pivoted at J uponthe post A and having its free end pivotally connected by a link J 2with one end of a rocking lever J pivoted upon a lixed stud J. Theopposite end of the rocking lever J is connected by a rod J with thereciprocating slotted plate H. A similar cam to the cam 1 (not shown) iscarried by the main driving-shaft B and actuates in a similar manner ayoke K, connected bya link K with a rocking lever K a duplicate of thelever J", which is similarly connected by a rod K with the reciprocatingslotted plate G.

Adjustably supported on a post L is a guidetrough L, in which arectangular strap M is presented to the machine and pushed between theopen knives E .E and dies F" F past the guide-studs C C on thedraw-plate C far enough to be engaged by the ends of the gripping-jawsC, as illustrated in Fig. 7. Rotary motion is then imparted to the shaftB, which draws the strap M between the cutting-knives andcompressing-dies. After a portion of the strap has passed thecutting-knives the latter are carried into contact with the strap, so asto reduce the diameter of the strap between the points a a, Fig. 8, andwhen the reduced portion of the strap has reached the compressing-dies FF they are pressed against the strap by the movement of thereciprocating slotted plate H to round the strap, and when the point (4reaches the knives and compressing-dies they are again opened by thereverse movement of the plates G and H, thereby leaving the ends Z2 Z1of the strap their normal size and shape. After the cutting-knives E Eare carried into contact with the strap it is held from sagging by thetrough L, which insures the delivery of the strap to the knives in astraight line.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a machine of the class described, the combination of the followinginstrumentalities, means for imparting a longitudinal movement to astrap, knives for reducing the diameter of the strap, means for movingsaid knives into action, dies for compressing the strap and means formoving said dies into action.

2. In a machine of the class described the combination of areciprocating draw-plate provided with means for engaging one end of thestrap and imparting a longitudinal movement thereto, a pair of fixedcutting-knives held in an oblique position to the line of motion of thestrap, means for carrying said knives into continuous contact with thestrap at a predetermined period in its movement and a guide-troughthrough which the strap is drawn, held in fixed relation to said knives.

3. The combination with means for imparting a longitudinal movement to astrap, of a pair of fixed cutting-knives held in an oblique position tothe line of motion of the strap, means for carrying said knives into continuous contact with the strap at a predetermined period in its movementand a guidetrough through which the strap is drawn, held in fixedrelation to said knives.

at. The combination with a strap-supporting trough, of a reciprocatingdraw-plate provided with means for engaging the strap, a pair of knives,means for moving the knives against the strap, means for moving theknives away from the strap, and means for applying pressure to the strapduring its longitudinal movement, substantially as described.

5. The combination with a reciprocating draw-plate having means forengaging the strap, of a pair of plates provided in the opposing edgeswith semicircular notches, and meansfor moving said notched platesagainst the strap, substantially as described.

6. The combination of a reciprocating draw-plate having means forengaging the strap, a pair of pivoted levers, knives carried by saidlevers, a reciprocating plate having curved slots engaging the free endsof said levers, whereby the knives are moved toward and away fromthe'strap, substantially as described.

7. The combination of a reciprocating draw-plate having means forengaging the strap, a pair of pivoted levers, compressingdies carried bysaid levers, and a reciprocating slotted plate engaging the free ends ofsaid levers, whereby said dies are moved toward and away from the strap,substantially as described.

Dated this 16th day of May, 1903.

JOHN R. FlTTON.

\Vitness es RUFUS B. FOWLER, PENELOPE CoMBERBAoH.

